Eagle Creek fire ravages Oregon's Columbia gorge for 5th day

Eagle Creek and Indian Creek fires have merged in the Columbia River Gorge and are now burning an estimated 30,929 acres, according to state and federal officials who worry that shifting winds could push the fires eastward on Wednesday.

Evacuation orders remain in place for multiple communities in east Multnomah County. Interstate 84 between Troutdale and Hood River remains closed.

Officials said protecting homes, historic structures in the gorge and the Bull Run watershed remain "top priorities" for firefighters Wednesday.

One home and four outbuildings were destroyed in the fires. Crews have so far managed to protect the lodge at Multnomah Falls, and protecting the Bull Run Watershed remains a priority.

The latest developments (6:12 p.m.): Thanks to slower winds, the fire did not grow significantly on Wednesday, officials said earlier this evening.

“The fire today is still basically in the same footprint it was overnight,” Traci Weaver, a U.S. Forest Service spokeswoman, said during a news conference discussing the day's developments.

Firefighting crews put out several spot fires to the west of the blaze Wednesday, Weaver said.

“We’re trying to get in there, cut those off and make sure they don’t make any further spread to the west again,” she said.

The fire has not spread far into the Bull Run Watershed, but flames have reached the top of the watershed management area, Weaver said. Firefighters are working on a plan to prevent the fire from spreading, she said.

Crews also conducted burnout operations near Cascade Locks to prevent the fire from reaching the town when winds shift and start blowing the fire to the east.

A chance of rain and weaker winds over the next few days bode well for the firefighting efforts, Weaver said.

Oregon Department of Transportation officials hope to say Thursday when they plan to open Interstate 84. Crews are making a plan to remove 1,500 to 2,000 trees that could fall in the highway.

Evacuation notices in Multnomah County have not changed, Sheriff Mike Reese said. However, residents have expressed concerns about looting in the evacuated areas. Reese reassured them that deputies are conducting enhanced patrols in evacuated neighborhoods.

“We are working diligently to protect people’s homes out in that area," he said.

Drinking water still safe (5:38 p.m.): Wildfire has touched Portland's Bull Run watershed, but it doesn't appear to have spread very far into the protected area that yields drinking water for nearly 1 million people in Portland.

An analysis by The Oregonian/OregonLive using federal fire data shows as of Tuesday night at 8 p.m., the fire had only burned 100 acres inside a protective buffer surrounding the Bull Run drainage.

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Photo courtesy of @SocialJusticeB

Bumpy start to school year (5:30 p.m.): The smoky Eagle Creek fire has posed unusual challenges for schools. From Corbett and Cascade Locks to Portland and Clark County, administrators are trying to find ways to deal with unhealthful air, heat and old buildings -- and ash covering the ground (above).

Eagle Creek locator map

Mark Friesen/Staff

Map of burn area (5:22 p.m.): The Eagle Creek fire was burning close to major landmarks in the Columbia River Gorge. This map is based on perimeter data released overnight early Wednesday by federal managers.